Hammer and peg toy



June 30, 1964 L. LA REAUX 3,138,894

HAMMER AND PEG TOY Filed March 7, 1962 United States Patent O 3,138,894 HAMMER AND PEG TY Leon La Reaux, Chicago, lil., assigner to American Toy & Furniture Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Iliinois Filed Mar. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 173,045 Claims. (Ci. 46-1) My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a toy, and more particularly to a pounding peg board type toy having in association therewith a ball rolling game.

A principal object of my invention is to provide a pounding peg board type toy including a ball rolling feature which is amusing and educational and capable of developing physical coordination.

A further object of my invention is in the provision in a toy of this character of an arrangement of parts which are simple in use yet economical in manufacture.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my improved toy;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational sectional detailed view taken on line 2 2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a side sectional elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing certain parts thereof in an actuated position;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational sectional detailed view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 of my improved toy; and

FIG. 5 is a bottom sectional detailed view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

My toy comprises a substantial hollow housing comprising a rectangularly shaped top 11, semi-arched side walls 12 and 13, a back wall 14, and a front wall 15.

Carried by the inner face of the side walls 12 and 13 are corresponding supporting members 16 and 17. Extending between the supporting members 16 and 17 in a substantially horizontal plane are two spaced apart shelf members 1S and 19. The opposite ends of each of the shelf members 18 and 19 are frictionally positioned in grooves 20 formed in corresponding opposite faces of the support members 16 and 17 as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Extending between the support members 16 and 17 and beneath the lowermost shelf 19 is an inclined track 21. This track 21 has its opposite ends positioned in opposite grooves 22 and 23 formed in the corresponding opposite faces of the support members 16 and 17 as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3. The lowermost end of the track 21 terminates into a passage 24 formed in the wall 12 and its corresponding support member 16. Carried by the shelf 19 in facial abutment with the inner surface of the back wall 14 is a buffer bar 25. Extending between the buffer bar 25 and the inner surface of the front wall 15, are a series of dividers 26. These dividers 26 form a series of individual compartments between shelves 18 and 19, as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The wall is provided with a plurality of entry-ways 27 providing communication with each of the internal compartments formed between the shelves 18 and 19. The shelf 19 is provided with a series of circular openings 28 aiTording communication between each of the compartments formed by the dividers 26 and the track 21. Carried by the bottom side of the lower shelf member 19 and extending in the direction of the front wall a sufficient distance to lie one-half way beneath the openings 28 is a resilient member 29. This member is of sufficient resilience to support a ball member 30 adapted to be placed into each compartment through the open- 3,138,894 Patented June 30, 1964 ICC ing 27 formed in the front wall 15 of the toy, as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5.

The top wall 11 of the toy is provided with a plurality of aligned openings 31 through which project a plurality of pounding pegs 32. These pegs are provided with an enlarged collar 33 which is adapted to engage the underside of the top Wall 11 adjacent the opening 31 to prevent withdrawal of the pounding peg 32 therethrough. Each of the pegs 32 is provided with a reduced stud portion 34 which extends downwardly from the collar 33 and projects through corresponding openings 35 formed in the top shelf member 18. Each of the reduced studs 34 is encircled by a coil spring 36 which has one end in engagement with the collar 33 and its opposite end in engagement with the uppermost shelf member 18 as viewed in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, The springs 36 normally urge the pounding pegs into the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The object of the toy is to pound any of the pegs 32 with a suitable mallet 37 so as to cause the reduced stud 34 of the struck peg 32 to move downwardly against the ball-like member 3i) forcing the same through the opening 28 past the resilient member 29 on to the track 21 for gravitation thereupon and out through the opening 24 formed in the side wall 12 and supporting member 16. This operation is shown in FIG. 3 with the dotted lines indicating the path of the ball as it gravitates down the track 21. The child playing the game then retrieves the ball and replaces it within the housing 10 through the appropriate opening 27 formed in the side wall 15. The coil spring 36 will return the struck peg 32 to its normal position as seen in FIGS. l and 2.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail mself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A pounding peg toy comprising (a) a hollow housing having a series of aligned peg receiving openings arranged through its top,

(b) a series of pegs disposed in said openings to move vertically up and down in said housing,

(c) shelf members in said housing extending in a parallel spaced relation to the top of said housing and forming ball receiving compartments with one compartment for each peg receiving opening,

(d) one of said shelf members provided with a series of openings in vertical alignment with said series of openings in the top of said housing,

(e) each of said pegs providing a reduced stud portion extending into one of said openings formed in said one of said shelf members,

(f) a coil spring between said one of said shelf members and the top of said housing and embracing each of said pegs for urging the same in a vertical direction through said openings in the top of said housing,

(g) an enlarged collar on each of said pegs for preventing vertical displacement of said pegs through said openings in the top of said housing,

(h) said other shelf member providing ball receiving openings in Vertical alignment with the ends of each of said reduced stud portions of said pegs,

(i) ball members in each of said ball receiving openings,

(j) means carried by said other shelf member for yieldably retaining said ball members in said ball receiving openings,

arsenaa- (k) an inclined track carried within said housing beneath said ball receiving openings and communicating with a ball exit formed in one side wall of said housing,

(l) each of said pegs movable Within said housing so as to move their respective reduced stud portions into Contact with each of said ball members to force the same beyond said yieldable retaining means and on to the track for gravitation thereover and out of said ball exit,

(m) and ball entrance-ways provided by said housing for each of said compartments so that ball members may be positioned within said housing and in said ball receiving openings.

2. A pounding peg toy comprising (a) a hollow housing having a series of aligned peg receiving openings arranged through its top,

(b) a series of pegs disposed in said openings to move vertically up and down in said housing,

(c) shelf members in said housing and forming ball receiving compartments with one compartment for each peg receiving opening,

(d) one of said shelf members provided with a series of openings in vertical alignment with said series of openings in the top of said housing,

(e) each of said pegs providing a reduced stud portion extending into one of said openings formed in said one of said shelf members,

(f) means operative on each of said pegs urging the same in a vertical direction through said openings in the top of said housing,

(g) means carried by each of Said pegs for preventing vertical displacement of said pegs through said openings in the top of said housing,

(lz) said other shelf member providing ball receiving openings in vertical alignment with the ends of each of said reduced stud portions of said pegs,

(i) ball members in each of said ball receiving open- HWS.

(j) a resilient ball supporting member carried by said other shelf member and extending beneath said ball receiving openings for yieldably retaining said ball members in said ball receiving openings,

(k) an inclined track carried within said housing beneath said ball receiving openings and communicating with a ball exit formed in one end wall of said housing,

(l) each of said pegs movable within said housing so as to move their respective reduced stud portions into contact with each of said ball members to force the same beyond said ball supporting member and on tol the track for gravitation thereover and out of said ball exit,

(m) and ball entrance-ways provided by one side wall of said housing for each of said compartments so that ball members may be positioned within said housing and retained in said ball receiving openings by said resilient ball supporting member.

3. A pounding peg toy comprising (a) a hollow housing having a series of aligned peg receiving openings arranged through its top,

(b) a series of pegs disposed in said openings to move vertically up and down in said housing,

(c) shelf members in said housing extending in a parallel spaced relation to the top of said housing and forming ball receiving compartments with one compartment for each peg receiving opening,

(d) one of said shelf members provided with a series of openings in vertical alignment With said series of openings in the top of said housing,

(e) each of said pegs providing a reduced stud portion extending into one of said openings formed in said one of said shelf members,

(f) a coil spring between said one of said shelf members and the top of said housing and embracing each of said pegs for urging the same in a vertical direction through said openings in the top of said housing,

(g) an enlarged collar on each of said pegs for preventing vertical displacement of said pegs through said openings in the top of said housing,

(l1) said other shelf member providing ball receiving openings in vertical alignment with the ends of each of said reduced stud portions of said pegs,

(i) ball members in each of said ball receiving openmgs,

(j) a resilient ball supporting member carried by said other shelf member and extending partially beneath said ball receiving openings for yieldably retaining said ball members in said ball receiving openings,

(k) an inclined track carried within said housing beneath said ball receiving openings and communieating with a ball exit formed in one end Wall of said housing,

(l) each of said pegs movable within said housing against its coil spring so as to move their respective reduced stud portions through their respective openings formed in said one of said shelf members and into contact with each of said ball members to force the same beyond said ball supporting member and on to the track for gravitation thereover and out of said ball exit,

(m) and ball entrance-Ways provided by one side wall of said housing for each of said compartments so that ball members may be positioned within said housing and retained in said ball receiving openings by said resilient ball supporting member.

4. A pounding peg toy comprising (a) a hollow housing having a series of aligned peg receiving openings arranged through its top,

(b) a series of pegs disposed in said openings to move vertically up and down in said housing,

(c) shelf members in said housing extending in a parallel spaced relation to the top of said housing and forming ball receiving compartments with one compartment for each peg receiving opening,

(d) one of said shelf members provided With a series of openings in vertical alignment with said series of openings in the top of said housing,

(e) ball ejecting means carried by each of said pegs and extending into each of said openings formed in said one of said shelf members,

(f) means between said one of said shelf members and the top of said housing and embracing each of said pegs for urging the same in a vertical direction through said openings in the top of said housing,

(g) means carried by each of said pegs for preventing vertical displacement of said pegs through said openings in the top of said housing,

(lz) said other shelf member providing ball receiving openings in vertical alignment with the ends of each of said ball ejecting means of said pegs,

(i) ball members in each of said ball receiving openings,

(j) means carried by said other shelf member for yieldably retaining said ball members in said ball receiving openings,

(k) an inclined track carried within said housing beneath said ball receiving openings and communicating with a ball exit formed in one end Wall of said housing,

(l) each of said pegs movable within said housing so as to move their respective ball ejecting means into contact with each of said ball members to force the same beyond said yieldable retaining means and on to the track for gravitation thereover and out of said ball exit,

(m) and ball entrance-ways provided by one side wall of said housing for each of said compartments so that ball members may be positioned within said housing and retained in said ball receiving openings by said yieldable retaining means.

5. A pounding peg toy comprising (a) a hollow housing having a series of aligned peg receiving openings arranged through its top,

(b) a series of pegs disposed in said openings to move vertically up and down in said housing,

(c) shelf members in said housing extending in a parallel spaced relation to the top of said housing and forming ball receiving compartments with one compartment for each peg receiving opening,

(d) one of said shelf members provided with a series of openings in vertical alignment with said series of openings in the top of said housing,

(e) ball ejecting means carried by each of said pegs and extending into each of said openings formed in said one of said shelf means,

(f) a coil spring between said one of said shelf members and the top of said housing and embracing each of said pegs for urging the same in a vertical direction through said openings in the top of said housing,

(g) an enlarged collar on each of said pegs for preventing vertical displacement of said pegs through said openings in the top of said housing,

(h) said other shelf member providing ball receiving openings in vertical alignment with the ends of each of said ball ejecting means of said pegs,

() ball members in each of said ball receiving openings,

(j) a resilient ball supporting member carried by said other shelf member and extending partially beneath said ball receiving openings for yieldably retaining said ball members in said ball receiving openings,

(k) an inclined track carried within said housing beneath said ball receiving openings and communicating with a ball exit formed in one end wall of said housing,

(l) each of said pegs movable within said housing so as to move their respective ball ejecting means into contact with each of said ball members to force the same beyond said ball supporting member and on to the track for gravitation thereover and out of said ball exit,

(m) and ball entrance-ways provided by one side wall of said housing for each of said compartments so that ball members may be positioned within said housing and retained in said ball receiving openings by said resilient ball supporting member.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,403,522 Goldstein et al. July 9, 1946 2,530,898 Morrison Nov. 21, 1950 2,609,637 Spence Sept. 9, 1952 2,774,179 Zalkind Dec. 18, 1956 

1. A POUNDING PEG TOY COMPRISING (A) A HOLLOW HOUSING HAVING A SERIES OF ALIGNED PEG RECEIVING OPENINGS ARRANGED THROUGH ITS TOP, (B) A SERIES OF PEGS DISPOSED IN SAID OPENINGS TO MOVE VERTICALLY UP AND DOWN IN SAID HOUSING. (C) SHELF MEMBERS IN SAID HOUSING EXTENDING IN A PARALLEL SPACED RELATION TO THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING AND FORMING BALL RECEIVING COMPARTMENTS WITH ONE COMPARTMENT FOR EACH PEG RECEIVING OPENING, (D) ONE OF SAID SHELF MEMBERS PROVIDED WITH A SERIES OF OPENINGS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH SAID SERIES OF OPENINGS IN THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING. (E) EACH OF SAID PEGS PROVIDING A REDUCED STUD PORTION EXTENDING INTO ONE OF SAID OPENINGS FORMED IN SAID ONE OF SAID SHELF MEMBERS, (F) A COIL SPRING BETWEEN SAID ONE OF SAID SHELF MEMBERS AND THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING AND EMBRACING EACH OF SAID PEGS FOR URGING THE SAME IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION THROUGH SAID OPENINGS IN THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING, (G) AN ENLARGED COLLAR ON EACH OF SAID PEGS FOR PREVENTING VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PEGS THROUGH SAID OPENINGS IN THE TOP OF SAID HOUSING, (H) SAID OTHER SHELF MEMBER PROVIDING BALL RECEIVING OPENINGS IN VERTICAL ALIGNMENT WITH THE ENDS OF EACH OF SAID REDUCED STUD PORTIONS OF SAID PEGS, (I) BALL MEMBERS IN EACH OF SAID BALL RECEIVING OPENINGS, (J) MEANS CARRIED BY SAID OTHER SHELF MEMBER FOR YIELDABLY RETAINING SAID BALL MEMBERS IN SAID BALL RECEIVING OPENINGS, (K) AN INCLINED TRACK CARRIED WITHIN SAID HOUSING BENEATH SAID BALL RECEIVING OPENINGS AND COMMUNICATING WITH A BALL EXIT FORMED IN ONE SIDE WALL OF SAID HOUSING, (L) EACH OF SAID PEGS MOVABLE WITHIN SAID HOUSING SO AS TO MOVE THEIR RESPECTIVE REDUCED STUD PORTIONS INTO CONTACT WITH EACH OF SAID BALL MEMBERS TO FORCE THE SAME BEYOND SAID YIELDABLE RETAINING MEANS AND ON TO THE TRACK FOR GRAVITATION THEREOVER AND OUT OF SAID BALL EXIT, (M) AND BALL ENTRANCE-WAYS PROVIDED BY SAID HOUSING FOR EACH OF SAID COMPARTMENTS SO THAT BALL MEMBERS MAY BE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND IN SAID BALL RECEIVING OPENINGS. 